Canadian and U.S. Equivalent Quality Grades
CANADA |
UNITED STATES |
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Canada Prime |
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USDA Prime |
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Canada AAA |
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USDA Choice |
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Canada AA |
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USDA Select * |
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Canada A |
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USDA Standard |
* USDA Select products could be a combination of Canada A and Canada AA graded product.
Both grading systems are established, administered and protected by government agencies.
The beef grading system in Canada addresses certain quality issues that
are not addressed in the U.S. system:
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Grade Classification. Canada has minimum requirements for muscling, color, fat color and fat cover in each of its four quality grades. Quality factors are weighted and one factor may be able to compensate for a deficiency in another in the U.S. The “offset” compensation is not allowed in the Canadian grading system. For more detailed information visit the Canadian Beef Grading Agency |
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Minimum Muscling Requirement. The Canadian system automatically eliminates all carcasses with poor muscling from the four high quality grades. The U.S has no minimum requirements. For more detailed information visit the Canadian Beef Grading Agency |
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Minimum Texture Requirement. The Canadian system automatically disqualifies all carcasses with less than firm texture from the four high quality grades. The U.S. allows more latitude for variations. For more detailed information visit the Canadian Beef Grading Agency |
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Yield Grades. In Canada, all A/AA/AAA/Prime graded carcasses must also be graded for the lean meat yield in the carcasses. This differs from the U.S. in which quality and yield grading are separate – with no guarantee that both quality and yield assessments are made of individual carcasses. For more detailed information visit the Canadian Beef Grading Agency |
